Summer love -Niall Horan

My dad was born in a small village in the middle of Spain. He's part of a big family known all over the city, because of my grandpa who was an important doctor.
Him and my grandma, they had 8 kids: one girl (the oldest) and 7 boys. My dad was the 5th.
I loved being part of a big family. I had around 15 cousins, from different ages, I loved being with every single one of them.
The problem about this is that we were the only ones that lived apart. The rest lived closer, not really really close but we were 500km apart.
So we only had a place where we will know we'll be together every year.

From all of the houses my grandparents had all over center Spain, the summer one was my favourite.
The place was full of lakes, and we had a really big and nice house just in front of one, with a door giving directly to it, so we were really lucky.
There was also the biggest garden I've ever seen and a swimming pool.

We weren't the only ones who reunited there every summer. Our neighbours, most of them, did the same, so we all considered this as our second home.

Me, my cousins and my sister, were friends with some neighbours kids, and we were always together.
We swam in the lakes, went kayaking, went to the fair... it was really fun.
I loved that we kept doing or traditions, we kept going to that place each summer and did the same things, seeing the same faces once again, something I waited for the whole year.
This town was my whole life, and no one could ever take that away from me, I'm sure.

But then, the summer I would be turning 11, I met someone new, who made me enjoy of all of this but still made me see the world differently.
It all went this way...

(...)
July finally arrived and that means 2 things: I would be turning 11 and I'd go back to my favourite place on earth.

I was packing when my mum entered. I was screaming Katy Perry songs.
—I see you're excited.
—Of course i am mum. I've been waiting all summer to go back and now it's happening, and this year I'll be there for my birthday.
—I know, are you excited to turn 11?
—Mum, quit. You always ask this the days before my birthday and I always say that I'll feel the same.
—Yes, you're right, but I'm sure this will change one of these days.
—Sure.—She laughed.
—Get ready, we'll leave in an hour.

The only thing I didn't like is that, as it was so far away, the trip by car was really exhausting. At least I could admire how beautiful the landscape was.
And, 4 hours later we arrived.

(The day before my birthday)
I woke up really excited. Some of my oldest cousins were here and as I'll be turning 11, they said I could go with them to jump off the rocks.
Don't get me wrong, it's not dangerous. But as a kid they didn't let me jump. You land in the water, and I've always wanted to go with them and try, and finally tomorrow was the day.

Our way of transport there was cycling, we would go by bike everywhere.
We went to the usual bar we went to every year, which had a camping and a lake next to it. The owners knew me, my sister and my cousins since we were born and we just went there and knew what we were gonna order. There was confidence between all of us in that town, something impossible to happen if you live in such a big city, as I do.
We 4 took our drinks and went to the lake.
—Hey Elena, can i have that?—My one-year older cousin said.
—Sure.—My sister, one year older cousin and his sister changed looks and laughed.
—What?—And they pushed me to the lake.
It was obviously as a joke, don't worry. We usually do this.
—Hey! At least you can help me come out!—He gives me his hand and I pull so he falls too.
We laugh uncontrollably. That's what I loved about this place.

Minutes after, I was putting my T-shirt on again ever though I had my bikini wet and then tried to dry a bit my hair with a towel. I headed to the bar again to order another drink and look for my sister and cousin (4 and 5 years older than me) who I hadn't seen for a while.

But I saw a boy, he had blond hair and the most pretty eyes i had ever seen. They were blue, not as mine, but lighter. He was struggling to understand the menu so I guessed he wasn't from here.
—Hey—I said in English.
—Hey—He now looks at me.—I'm sorry, I don't speak..
—Spanish, I know. You could tell from far away, hahah.—I pointed to the back.
—Oh, is it that obvious?
—Yeah, but don't worry, I'll help you. What do you fancy?
—I don't know... any suggestions? As I see you're from here...
—I'm not, I mean, I'm Spanish but from the south. But don't worry, I come here every summer and I know the owner, follow me.

I took him to the main part of the bar and I ordered something for us.
—You really don't have to pay, I have money.
—I know, but i want to. You were really nice to me, and didn't laugh at my attempt to speak Spanish.
—Yeah, I was trying so hard not to laugh, if I'm honest, haha. But why do they leave you here alone if you don't know nothing about our language?
—My parents told me to explore. I refused but they didn't really care.
—Oh I'm sorry.
—Don't worry. At least this year we went out or Ireland.
—You're Irish? Oh god I love Ireland!
—You've been?
—No, but I've always wanted to go. I hope I can someday.
—I'm sure you will.
I look at my watch.
—Oh no!
—What wrong?
—Im supposed to be home now, I gotta go, I'm sorry.
—Don't worry. I should be going back too. It was nice meeting you.
—You too...what's your name?
—Niall.
—I'm Elena.
I said goodbye to him and grabbed my bike. I was about to head home when i turned around.
—Niall!—He looked back.
—Hum?
—Tomorrow it's my birthday, you're invited. Meet me here in the morning.
—Sure, I'll love to.

And he disappeared from my view. This summer would be the best one so far, I felt it.